Case Number 05181

Blue Spring

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All Rise...

Judge Joel Pearce just doesn't get these Japanese kids today, with their Dance Dance Revolution and their Pokemon and their violent school gangs battling each other for control of their insular and nihilistic worlds...

The Charge

"Teacher, aren't there flowers that never bloom?"—Kujo
"Flowers are meant to bloom, not to dry up. That's what I choose to
believe. It's a very important thing. "—Hanada

Opening Statement

As it turns out, high school violence is not only a problem in North America.
It's a major concern in Japan as well. Blue Spring explores the school
situation in Japan, as well as the violence and despair that marks the current
generation of youth. ArtsmagicDVD has once again reestablished itself as a great
distributor of Asian film with a solid release of this disturbing and
fascinating film.

Facts of the Case

The situation at Asashi High is not very good. Most of the students seem
completely apathetic and disaffected, with their hopes and dreams shattered
after years of boredom and mistreatment. These students have formed their own
rough society in this wasteland, one of cruelty and strength. The new leader of
the senior class is Kujo (Ryuhei Matsuda, Gohatto), whose general apathy
is punctuated by moments of violence and physical prowess. His right hand man
Aoki (Hirofumi Arai) has always been a misfit as well, but takes to the power
that this position affords him. As the students of the school become more
frustrated and bored, the violence escalates until the structure of this
miniature society threatens to implode, destroying not only the boys' futures,
but their lives as well.

The Evidence

Just when I think I know what to expect from Japanese manga adaptations,
Blue Spring comes along and knocks me right off my feet. Because of its
subject matter and roots, it has often been compared to Battle Royale, and that's sort of
what I was expecting when I sat down to view it. Certainly, they do have several
elements in common. Blue Spring has a very high style factor and a keen
eye for camera angles. It has sudden and hard-hitting violence and a savage
sense of humor. It pits a large group of high schoolers against each other. In
the end, though, it's a very different film than its more popular counterpart,
and an entirely unique look at this international problem.

While Battle Royale revels in the violence associated with the
rebellion of youth against Japanese society, Blue Spring is a much more
contemplative look at what happens to youth that are not given any hope, chances
or encouragement. The school building is in abysmal shape, and their classes are
spent learning things that don't seem to have any connection to their own lives.
What motivation does a student have to learn advanced mathematics if he doesn't
believe he will be able to get into college? What good is learning about the
past if you don't think you have a future? Although these subjects aren't
presented to the students with any enthusiasm, it's ironic to note that some of
them should be highly relevant to these students. For example, their history
teacher's description of the civil war is frighteningly similar to their own
fights for control—but none of them realize this, because they no longer
bother to pay attention.

The violence comes suddenly and brutally, but enough of it happens
off-screen to make the violence that is seen more meaningful and
upsetting than that of Battle Royale. It's impossible to enjoy the
violence that fills this school, and at times it's horrible to watch. Perhaps a
better comparison point for this film would be Lord of the Flies, as is mentioned in
some of the bonus features. As in that classic book, an adult presence is
basically missing from the society of these teens. It's not a complete absence,
though; it just seems that most of the teachers in the school are too frightened
to get involved or to say anything that could provoke the students. The teachers
say nothing when the students write on the desk; ignore the ones that enter and
exit the class at any point; and are only willing to interfere in the violence
when it turns into murder. Only Mr. Hanada, the diminutive gardener, dares
involve himself in this volatile situation.

The complex politics of the students are handled well by a talented young
cast. Ryuhei Matsuda is remarkable as Kujo, whose performance seems random at
first, but later develops an impressive level of complexity. He is a gang leader
that is capable of using force, but prefers to be by himself whenever possible.
Hirofumi Arai is just as good, believably transforming Aoki from a loyal
follower to a dangerous upstart in a short amount of screen time.

The slick cinematography has been well-captured by a solid video transfer.
It's not quite a reference quality track, but it's much better than I have come
to expect from low budget Japanese films. The film is very dark, but there's a
surprising amount of detail in the shadows. There are no visible flaws, and the
only real problem is with the color saturation, which seems a bit lower than
intended. The sound transfer is not quite as impressive. It is a stereo track,
and demonstrates the limitations that come with that format. The music and
dialogue is well-mixed, but it would have been nice to hear the music in the
rear sound stage as well.

The disc is also surprisingly packed with special features. The most
impressive is a commentary track with Japanese film expert Tom Mes, who gives
the film a great deal of cultural and artistic context. This is the kind of
track that so many of these kinds of films ought to have, but rarely do. So many
of the events have deep cultural significance, and it is only through this type
of interpretation that we can fully appreciate these films. Mes has a number of
interesting things to say about this film, and he fills in the spaces with
information about the director, actors and other films that connect in some way
to Blue Spring.

There are also a series of filmographies, with a bit more information
included than is usual. Much more fascinating are two interviews with director
Toshiaki Toyoda, who comments on aspects of the film. I was very surprised and
impressed to discover that this film was produced in three weeks. The other
interview surrounds his debut film, Pornostar, which seems to deal with
similar themes and problems.

Closing Statement

Blue Spring is a deeply moving and troubling film. Though it isn't as
much fun to watch as Battle
Royale, it shows a glimmer of hope at the end that was absent in that more
popular film. It's a fine example of filmmaking, and the extra material offers
the context that's needed to fully understand it. I strongly recommend it to
anyone who is interested in the violence and hopelessness that plagues
contemporary schools. Fans of foreign films will likely be pleased with it as
well. I think we can expect to see great things from Toshiaki Toyoda in the
future. Blue Spring was nothing like I expected it to be when I sat down
to watch it, and I was amazed to find it to be even better than I had hoped.
This is a hidden gem of a movie. It shocks, entertains and has something to
say—all in under an hour and a half.

The Verdict

Everyone involved in the making of Blue Spring is free to go.
ArtsmagicDVD is commended for releasing the film with more respect than we are
used to seeing for Japanese films in North America.